Activistas

Share Books with Children in Foster Care

My kids love books.  My one-year-old likes to hold them, turn the pages, look at the pictures and point at the things she recognizes.  My 3-YO is really starting to get into the stories.  He often references something from the stories in his day-to-day life.  He also enjoys the language and has developed an ear for new words or rhyming patterns.  Our nightly ritual is to cuddle up with a good book or two, and I think it is safe to say that their childhoods would not be nearly so rich without books.   

That's why I love the Books from the Heart program.  If you are like me and believe books should be a part of every child's life, you can donate some to children in foster care who may not have any of their own.    The donated books should be new and can be dropped at any Barnes & Noble store in town before the end of the day on May 31st (Saturday).   Pick out a few titles your kids loved and share them with a little one who is likely to love them, too.  Why not?

Can't do it before Saturday?  Post something in the comments and we'll contact you about picking them up and dropping them at the state Department of Human Services, which runs the Oregon foster care program.

Know of any other children's book donation programs? We'd love to know so we can help in the future, especially if we're too late with this one! 

If We Had Time to Read...

I like to think that someday we will all read again.  And I mean more than Dr. Suess and the Oregonian headlines, puh-leese.  But until that miraculous day, I can dream, right?  Or at least create a virtual pile to delight over, to have at the waiting for those mornings I am blessedly awake before the rest of the living beings in my house and the laundry is already done.  Maybe you, too, have a virtual pile?  And while my growing stack is not limited to books on activism around the current events and public policies that affect U.S. families, Activistas is. 

So, here is the perfect place to create just such a virtual reading list.  We're calling it If We Had Time to Read. Check it out on the left side of Activistas.  We hope you'll add to it and tell us about any of the books you've read from the list.  No need for a full-on, official review or anything, just your thoughts.  Did it motivate you?  Seem impossible?  Off the mark?  If we share our own reading experiences here on Activistas, we'll all feel like we're keeping up a little, getting something from these authors when, truth be told, we have no time to read!  Reading without reading.  Works for me!

And don't forget to check Literary Mama for real reviews by real mamas of a whole host of books.  Our goal here is to limit it to books specifically about parent activism and the issues we are working to change.  And, hopefully, to invite you to share your thoughts about these books without the pressure of writing a full book review.

The Maternal is Political: Read It, Hear It

We've discussed before how becoming a mother transforms us.  And as I recently overheard, it does so instantly, completely, and forever.  Agreed, mamas, agreed.  And we've read Guestivista Kristin's article on the important role of women  - most of whom are mamas - in politics.  Now we have another opportunity to read the impressive words of a local mama on this topic. It's Shari McDonald Strong's upcoming book, The Maternal is Political, sure sounds on point, huh?  You might know Shari's writing from Literary Mama and Mother Talk.  We're  planning to review it and interview her right here on Activistas in the coming weeks.

If you're like me with far too little time to read, head over to Powell's on Hawthorne Thursday 5.29 @ 7:30 for a reading.  Shari and four of her contributors will be there to read excerpts from the book.  And grab a copy, while you're at it.  I can't wait to have a look - even if it takes me 40 weeks to get through the 40 essays!  If anyone's interested in jointly tackling an essay a week and discussing it here, e-mail us.  We're game if you are. 

Here's a quick description of the book, from the editors - so very much of this sounds familiar, doesn't it? 

Mothers Acting Up: Get the 2008 Handbook

While I like to think of myself as a mother who acts up, there is an actual group called Mothers Acting Up that is seriously impressive.  Its mission is right-on and sounds a wee bit familiar:

MAU inspires, educates and engages mothers — a gigantic force to be reckoned with— to prioritize children in our corporate and public policies. MAU believes that when mothers lead, generations of global citizens will follow.

Tara e-mailed us to see if we might want to go in on some copies of the 2008 MAU Handbook for the Movement since there's a buy-5-get-1-free deal.  Uh, absolutely.  Here's how MAU describes it:

You on OPB: Show on Economic Status & Politics

We've talked before about how hard it can be to be politically active while parenting.  Sheesh, getting your completed ballot to the drop box by the cutoff time is challenge enough for many of us!  If you feel strongly about this issue and identify yourself as someone who struggles to make ends meet, OPB's Think Out Loud talk show is looking for guests who can discuss how economic status affects one's view of politics and expectations of politicians. 

Free tomorrow?  Yes, the show is tomorrow, 4.22.08 from 9 - 10 AM.  If you think you'll check out as a good fit, get in touch with host Emily Harris right away.

Join the Conversation.  Even if you're not an official guest (which is pretty exciting), you can still weigh in online or call in during the show (888-665-5865).  Add your voice to this important conversation on this interesting angle on politics.

It's Earth Day, Mamas. Be a Change Agent.

Are you really and truly passionate about the environment?  Ready to move beyond just living your own life more sustainably?  Want to be involved in a movement to create change in your community?  We thought you might.  So check out the Center for Earth Leadership's Agent of Change Class - it might be just the thing for you. 

This 5-class series teaches those passionate about sustainable living the skills needed to bring about change in your community (it's hard enough sometimes in our own homes, let alone preaching to others).  The class teaches the theory, practice, and tools a change agent needs to influence others and create change.  Plus, then you can use the very same skills to promote better family policy 'round here.  If you're a change agent, no need to limit it to one of the many, many areas that need help these days.

Logistics: The class runs from 7:00 to 8:45 pm on Wednesdays, April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14, and June 11, 2008.  Perfect for missing bedtime...

Ready to Sign Up?  For more information email Meghan Mix or call her at 503.227.2315.  To register, email her your home address, phone number, email address, and a short paragraph about why you'd like to take the class.

World's Biggest Baby Shower: You Bring the Gifts!

I've been to a baby shower or two in my day.  I like them.  Celebrating pregnant mamas and babies just feels good to me.  So if a bunch of 10 friends and grandma warms my heart, get a load of this: for two solid weeks this month (April 12-27) you can donate baby items that will be distributed to families in need.  A community baby shower!  An excellent opportunity to welcome all babies into our village.  Genious. 

How It Works: It couldn't be simpler. You donate and/or collect needed baby items for Northwest Children's Outreach and the agencies they serve in the Portland and Vancouver areas.  You've probably heard of some: Good Neighbor Center, Albina Head Start, LifeWorks NW, and Virginia Garcia Healthy Start, to name a few. 

What to Donate? Just check the web site for a comprehensive list.  Some items I noticed are: car seats, pacifiers, receiving blankets, bouncy seats and wipes.  All new, of course, and no gift wrap.

Where to Take It All?  Four options, mamas: April 12th Portland Trail Blazers game, Lloyd Center Mall, Westfield Vancouver Mall, and any Mattress World.

Host a shower!  Go ahead, mamas, kick it up a notch.  A fun way to bolster donations and encourage friends to get involved is to host a baby shower at your house, only there's no specific baby, it's all to be donated!  Good excuse for a get together with some mama friends and the host delivers the donations afterwards.  Love that.  If you want to use Activistas to organize a 'shower,' e-mail us, we're game.  Remember our holiday Adopt-A-Family effort?  This could be like Christmas in April!

Write an Article for Mothers Movement Online

Are you a writer?  Passionate about this thing that some call the mothers movement?  Well then.  The upcoming issue of the Mothers Movement Online web magazine is titled Update: The Mothers' Movement in the United States.  The emphasis is on questions, controversies, and progress.  Perfect opportunity to gather and share your thoughts on this topic and get a little writing practice and exposure, to boot. 

Submissions are due by April 1st; check the 2008 editorial calendar for details about this and the remaining four issues. 

Activism while Parenting: How DO You Do It?

Yup.  The supplemental session in Salem last month ended even before it was supposed to!  I'll admit that my intentions were great for staying up to speed, participating where it made sense, and generally feeling a part of it all.  But honestly, this whole following politics & speaking up while parenting thing is no easy task.  I feel like I was there the day it started, shoot, I even submitted some testimony to an interim committee in January.  Feeling every-so-slightly on the ball.  Then, it was as if I went to the basement to do the laundry, came back upstairs, and the session had ended.  Just. like. that. 

More than anything, this little experiment in annual sessions left me feeling like it's no wonder we parents can't win, because we just can't get there.  Testify Wednesday morning at 10 AM - in Salem?  Uh, I'm working and have so little leave that I can't use it up testifying in Salem - really.  Write a letter to my representatives  - sure, but at midnight when my energy for it all is at a low point.  So how are we parents supposed to keep up with this stuff?  Be sure we don't miss the golden opportunity to fight the good fight.  Stand on the steps of the legislature to support paid leave?  Be the squeaky wheel.  How do YOU keep up?  Stay involved?  Feel like you're IN there? 

Help me, mamas, because sometimes it seems a whole lot easier to just leave it to the advocacy organizations and hope they've got it right.  After all, those wonderful people are paid to fight the good fight, right?  And that way, I could stick to figuring out what we're having for dinner tomorrow night (my husband would be thrilled), when music class ends, and, oh right, my job!!!  Activism while parenting, mamas, is it really possible???

Inspiring Mamas: Drop-in childcare at the hospital

We've been discussing child care a lot lately, from many angles: needing it, paying for it, finding it, criticizing those who use it, you name it.  But we never once touched on this one angle that I read about in today's In Portland section - maybe you caught it?  Child care for parents in medical care.  The mama featured in the article endured 140 appointments one year as she battled breast cancer - with a toddler in tow.  My, my.  As she is quoted saying in The O, "The medical system is not designed for patient flexibility.  My grocery store, my gym, and even my grocery store have child care.  So should my doctor's office." 

So what did she do?  She and a friend hatched an idea to benefit other parents facing the same challenge and (in their spare time!) brought it to life.  They call it My Little Waiting Room.  The idea is to provide low-cost drop-in child care at hospitals while parents and siblings attend appointments.  They've got a blog (who doesn't?), so if you want to jump in, need the service, need more blogs to gobble up your time, check it out.  Like, wow, mamas.  Knock my socks off.  If there were such a thing as Activista-of-the-Year awards, these two seem like seriously strong candidates.

PS - When I told my 5-year-old son recently that something (his stellar swimming?) knocked my socks off, he wanted to know what it meant.   Uh, these two women and this program are so positively fabulous that my, uh, socks flew right off my feet?  Help! That would so not fly with him.